Is There Any Way To Practice Frugality While Bodybuilding?
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For the past few weeks, I’ve started taking advantage of another university facility that I didn’t use for the first three years of college (but still paid for). Since this semester was somewhat of a breeze, despite short periods of torture, and I needed something to do, I started working out. To the gym it is!
What I found from researching the basics of bodybuilding is quite discouraging (for the wallet). To properly build muscle I’ve learned that one must:
- Increase weights.
- Eat more protein.
- Eat more frequently.
This means I need to:
- Get adjustable weights.
- Buy chicken, steak, eggs, fish and protein mixes.
- Buy more food.
It is said that I should be eating more calories and protein to support the muscle growth. I notice that my $25-per-week budget for food is just enough for me to get through the week but it isn’t enough if I’m serious about working out. And I am.
Chicken, beef, and eggs are a regular part of my diet but fish and steak are quite expensive. But, school is almost over and I’ll be returning home where my mom always cooks more than enough. Sadly, I don’t have access to a gym back at home. This brings me to the weights.
I have nothing at home for working out since I’m more into sports than weight training. I’ve looked around for dumbbells and I find that I’ll need adjustable weights. These damn things cost upwards from $499!
One step I’ve taken is buying a 2.5 lb tub of Muscle Milk Protein Mix for $18.10 (I had a discount). I’ll also be eating more egg whites (no yolk because of the cholesterol). I don’t want to have a little progress and then stop during the winter break. Getting more food isn’t a problem because I’m fine with spending an addition $10.
The problem is how I should get the workout I need. Any ideas to do so without going broke? I’ll also appreciate any tips on foods that are effective and easy on the wallet.
Photo credit: bgarciagil
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5 Comments on this post
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Justin "The Night Trader" said:
Man I hear you there! After getting out of college and getting a “good” paying job I splurged and got a fitness club membership along with a workout buddy. We went in together and haggled the price down, but I still pay almost $54/mo for my membership. I’ve suggested dropping it several times, but my wife knows how much I love it and has insisted I keep it. (I think she likes the idea of me de-stressing before I come home by throwing some iron around
). I also have a $5/mo membership for the fitness center at my workplace, which is nice for quick or mid-day workouts. I should probably just use that and drop the other one, but I’m so spoiled from working out on the nice equipment and environment of a premiere fitness center. It’s my one-and-only splurge on the budget, so I keep justifying it.Before getting married and crimping down on the budget I was buying the protein powder … Muscle Milk tasted the best, but there was a gainer I took for a while that wasn’t bad. That stuff is freaking expensive though! But unfortunately I haven’t found a good substitute :-/. I eat quite a few eggs and my wife’s good home cookin’, but I can’t seem to gain anything anymore. I think you need that high-protein immediately after a workout to do much for you. I could probably help myself out by getting high-protein snacks to eat during the day, but that adds up too. If you figure out anything let me know!
December 7th, 2008 at 10:13 pm -
Donny Gamble said:
I think the best way to do this is to cut down on your supplement implementation and eat more natural foods. Supplements can become very costly especially to those who use them on a daily basis.
December 9th, 2008 at 10:53 am -
Bill said:
You’re on the right path. You do need to eat more HIGH QUALITY food, but not as much as you think. Eggs and milk are your best sources of good protein and they’re relatively inexpensive (especially eggs). Check out the web for muscle-building diets. Look for Vince Gironda. He passed away a while back, but he co-wrote an excellent book with Robert Kennedy called Unleashing the Wild Physique, in which they detailed an “anabolic” diet plan. I write a blog and author a site about bodybuilding, if you’re interested (email me and I’ll send the links).
One final note: Prisoners often build massive muscle because they have a lot of free time on their hands (most of it rest and meditation), NOT because of the food they eat (it’s quite garbage). Think about that. Additionally, Bill Pearl was a famous vegetarian bodybuilder in the 50s and 60s.
Best of luck!
December 11th, 2008 at 10:05 am -
SevenToTen said:
From what I know, bodybuilders exhaust quite a bit of cash with all protein intake in their meals and the supplements, vitamins they have to purchase.
Not much chance to save money there, the only way is maybe to get a sponsor.
December 13th, 2008 at 2:42 am -
Tom said:
I just started working out as well. I pay about $40/month for a very nice gym membership and go about every day. Now, instead of my girlfriend and I going out to eat and shopping to keep busy, we go to the gym. It helps us actually save more money.
As for the supplements, I use muscle milk as well and either buy it on Amazon or my local grocery store called meijer. I can get 14 servings for about $13. This lasts me about 2 weeks. It does add up but you need that protein to get muscle. I’m not going to get ripped but rather toned and to get rid of my gut. haha.
Good luck and enjoy your work out sessions!
December 14th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
